James and Joan McClain

Nominated by:
L.A. Capdevila

James & Joan are scheduled for ordination on Thursday, ​Dec 14th, 2023 @ The Upper Room. 

AS: Pastors / Evangelists

​James & Joan McClain entered full time ministry in 1967. Together they have pastored churches in Florida and New Jersey.

​Missions ministry has always been a high priority for them. 

They have traveled to Swaziland, Liberia, Kenya, Uganda and Venezuela. In Bulgaria they ministered in the Gypsy church and also on the Russian border. The McClains have taught in Bible institutes in the US and in the nations listed above. They are regarded as experts in the area of ministerial ethics, biblical conflict resolution and healthy marriage & family - especially for ministers. James & Joan have been honored by governments and kings for their contribution to nourishing the spiritual climate in their nations.

In 1976 they were key founders of the Living Room Coffee House in Tampa. From the very beginning, the Living Room was the largest Christian coffee house in the South. The Living Room was a place for young adults to worship the Lord along with the leading bands in contemporary Christian music. Radio stations sometimes did live remotes from the Living Room. Bus loads of people came to Tampa from Miami to Jacksonville to participate in the unique move of God in Tampa. Further, before there was the Jesus Revolution in California, there was city revival that was birthed out of their church in Mount Holly, NJ. Drug addicts were instantly delivered; government officials met Jesus; homeless people received ministry and welcomed into the church family and families were healed.

Families in the church immersed themselves in the foster care system and gave these children a home & family. The McClains opened their home to foster children, as well as being an emergency shelter for children. Rev. McClain served as the chairman of the Burlington County Children's Home society which had over 200 boys. The church grew from only 28 congregants to over 1200 in less than three years. Their apostolic anointing birthed spiritual sons and daughters, brought structure where there was chaos and disorder in congregations, and launched many into missions ministry. Today they live a quiet life in Lakeland, still cultivating young ministers and challenging them to plunge deeper in intimacy with the Lord and be firebrands of revival.